Brooklyn The Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim conducted a press conference at their monthly Rosh Chodesh (Sivan) Convocation and Conference held on May 15, 2018. Approximately 35 Rabbis convened at Congregation Beis Medrash Divrei Yisroel, located in the Flatbush Section of Brooklyn, where Igud Dayan, Rabbi Yesochor Berish Welz serves as Rabbi.

Rabbi Aharon Ziegler presented a Dvar Torah on the importance of the holiness of Eretz Yisrael and pointed out how many of the street names in Israel are holy because they are named after Torah sages, such as Ramban Avenue and Rambam Street.

Rabbi Chaim Komendant, Menahel of the RAA/IGUD Beth Din, spoke of the importance of Jews turning to a Beth Din when the time arises. Rabbi Komendant noted how unique and fair the RAA/IGUD Beth Din is and stated that the forms and rules and regulations of the Beth Din are available at the Beth Din’s website, BDIgud.org.

Rabbi Gil Student described the new monthly project of the Halacha Commission, which is the posing of a halachic inquiry to the 950-member rabbis of the RAA/IGUD seeking their halachic opinions. The goal is to record these opinions in a halachic journal.

Besides the learned Torah presented at the Conference, the RAA/IGUD addressed several current problems that the Jewish Community in the United States and in Israel are facing.

The first issue tackled at the press conference was the situation with NYU hospitals that have discontinued the Volunteer Visitation program. The RAA/IGUD urged the administration of NYU to restore access and to allow once again the Satmar Bikur Cholim volunteers to visit with patients in their hospital rooms. Leading the charge was Rabbi Mark Meyer Appel, Chairman of the C.A.P.S division of the RAA/IGUD. C.A.P.S., which stands for Community, Advocacy, Policy and Services, was founded in memory of Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, ZT’L, who served as the Executive Director of the RAA/IGUD until his passing two years ago.

Rabbi Appel made it clear that he will not rest until this travesty is rectified and the wonderful Satmar Bikur Cholim volunteers receive the access they need to serve patients at NYU hospitals. In furtherance of advocating for Bikur Cholim, a unanimous resolution was passed by the RAA/IGUD to take all appropriate necessary measures to assist Bikur Cholim and so they can discharge their holy duty as they have been doing for nearly 60 years.

Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik were joined by top NYPD brass concerning recent anti-Semitic attacks in New York City. Captain Tim Hollywood, Executive Officer of the Hate Crimes Task Force, and Lt. Robert Delaney, from the Hate Crimes Task Force, conveyed regards from NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill to the RAA/IGUD Rabbis in attendance. Both Captain Hollywood and Lt. Delaney made it abundantly clear that the NYPD maintains zero tolerance for anti-Semitic attacks, such as those that occurred this past month. They further asked the rabbis to relay to the Jewish community that the NYPD is taking every step available to protect the Jewish community and to apprehend the perpetrators of these anti-Semitic attacks.

Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht addressed the RAA/IGUD’s concern about those in the media who criticize Israel’s defensive actions against terrorists who attacked the Israeli border in Gaza. Rabbi Hecht advised that the RAA/IGUD would be forthcoming with a press statement, which they did the next morning.

Rabbi Hecht wrote an email to Michael Savage condemning his rant against Jews on his radio show. GifterInGotham obtained the email:

Michael,

How unbecoming and worse, your blasphemous mouthing’s of anti-Semitic sentiments by a proud American.

You may have gained an “in” with G-D with your latest book, however with today’s outrageous broadcast -opening, you may have Heaven fore-fend — swiftly if not sooner — lose it all, with the perfidious accusations pouring out of your gut that is being listened to by millions of listeners.

Yes I know ratings and being counter-intuitive, is your trademark.

However Truth, yes truth and justice are even more powerful and compelling. No one has an exclusive on truth save the Almighty. No amount of playing both sides of the fence will exonerate calling Israel’s self-defense of its border with LIVE AMMUNITION and successfully keeping the killers and terrorists away — as being a crime against humanity.

You quote some anti-Israel writers and mouth the screeds of the NYT.

You give the NAZI PLO and HAMAS justification for their positions justifying their hate and terror.

Wow, the great Michael Savage has in one broadcast now given the enemies of Israel a justification –spoken no less by an American Broadcaster — a person who really knows more than a smattering of Bible

You rained on Jerusalem yesterday and the accompanying joy and moral clarity and truth that was achieved with the opening of the USA Embassy and one that materially represents the USA’s support of beleaguered Israel.

As a person who knows what Jerusalem is and what it represents — you asked the cynical “John Kerry” like questions – What will it accomplish? Why now? Why ramp up the hatred of Israel’s enemies?

We have all heard this before the Holocaust too. Yes, there are many parallels to current events. Your shouting me or anyone else down will not make a sniff of a difference.

I should sign off as Sincerely and Respectfully, but I cannot, not after such a damning wrong reasoned outburst against the Jewish people and the State of Israel

I can’t believe that I am writing this to you. However I am doing so, for your own good and moreover, for the welfare and education of the millions, you may influence for good and for a more moral world.